Method and apparatus for forming concrete foundation columns



W. J. NEWMAN Dec. 1 3, 19%.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONCRETE FOUNDATION COLUMNS Original Filed March 12, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lll u lll Dec. 13, 1938.

w. .1. NEWMAN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONCRETE FOUNDATION COLUMNS Original Filed March 12, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE William J. Newman, Chicago, 111.

Application March 12, 1932, Serial No. 598,397 Renewed May '7, 1938 6 Claims.

This application relates to foundations or underground constructions wherein holes or wells are drilled or excavated while keeping the same filled with water or muck and are then filled with concrete or the like to form columns, foundation, or wall members. The invention is particularly applicable to such methods in which relatively large wells, of five feet or more in diameter, and of considerable depth, are drilled down to a bed of solid rock or other similar structure adapted to support the column.

The objects of this invention are to provide an improved foundation structure and method of constructing the same; to provide an improved method of filling wells with concrete; to provide means whereby a portion of a well filled with water or muck may be closed off to permit access to the bottom for inspection or cleaning; to provide means for making a closure between an open pipe and the bottom of a well filled with water whereby the water may be pumped out of the pipe without drawing the same from the space between the pipe and the walls of the well; to provide a novel cutting device adapted to out a slot for receiving the same in the bottom of a well, which device also serves for making a joint or closure in the pipe; and in general to provide such new devices and methods as will be described more fully hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention;

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a well showing my improved cutting apparatus in operative position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the circular cutter embedded in the rock or bottom of the well and also showing the inspection and filling pipe; reinforcing rods, and other parts in position preparatory for placing the concrete;

Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating the placing of the concrete;

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a detail of one of the sockets or bayonet joint driving members for the cutter.

The Well 6 is drilled by means of any suitable drilling apparatus and is preferably kept filled with water or muck 1 during the entire drilling operation, a large proportion of the excavated material preferably being left in the water, thus increasing the specific gravity and keeping sufficient pressure on the side walls 8 to prevent the walls from caving in. These wells are frequently of five feet or more in diameter and upwards of one hundred feet in depth and are preferably drilled down to a layer 9 of bedrock or other suitable formation upon which the foundation may rest.

After the well is drilled, the drilling apparatus is removed and a spider or driving head If! attached to the lower end of the drill pipe or red H. In the construction shown, the drill pipe is provided with a flange 12 which engages with a flange l3 on the spider and these parts are connected by bolts 14. The adjacent faces of the flanges may be provided with interlocking lugs or teeth I5 to prevent undue strain on the bolts. The spider has a plurality of radially arranged lugs or projections I6 which are adapted to engage with slots or recesses I! in driving brackets IS on the inner periphery of a cylindrical cutter IS. The slots ll are preferably of bayonet joint form, as shown in Figure 5, so that the cutter may be supported on the spider and lowered into position and turned by the spider when it is driven in one direction. The spider may then be disconnected from the cutter by rotating it a short distance in the opposite direction so that the projections it are free to move upwardly out of the bayonet joint slots.

The circular cutter 59 may be of any suitable type or form for cutting a kerf in the bed 9 so that a portion thereof will be embedded and sealed in such kerf or slot. The form shown comprises a tubular section preferably made of sheet steel and having cutting teeth 20 or a serrated lower edge as shown.

When the cutter has been lowered to the bottom of the well it is rotated by the spider l0 and drill pipe H in the proper direction for cutting and this is continued until the cutter has made a circular kerf or groove for a substantial distance into the bed rock 9 and so that water is not apt to pass down around the lower end thereof. In other words, the cutter is embedded in the rock and the rock makes a tight closure for the lower end thereof. After the cutter has thus been implanted in the rock, the spider is turned in the reverse direction until the drive portions iii are free to be raised out of the slots and the string of drill pipe with the spider are then removed from the well.

A pipe 2| is then lowered into the well and extends from above the top of the same down to the bottom. The lower end of this pipe rests on the upper end of the cylindrical member 19 and any suitable means may be provided for making a tight joint between these members. In the arrangement shown, the pipe 2! is provided with a conical or outwardly tapered portion entire area of a well.

22 at the bottom and a gasket 23 is secured thereto, this gasket being formed of any suitable packing material. The gasket engages with the upper tapered end 24 of the cutter it as shown in Figure 2, thus making a tight joint between the parts. The pipe 2! is lowered into the well while the Well is still filled with water or muck and will usually be of comparatively great weight so that it tends to press the cylindrical member l9 downwardly and to make a tight closure between the pipe and the bottom of the well. pipe has been thus placed in position the water is pumped out of the pipe and the upwardly projecting portion of the cylindrical member l9 but the water or muck between the pipe and the sides of the well remains in position. The pipe 2| is preferably of sufiicient diameter so that a man can pass down through the same and examine the bottom and determine whether it is of a satisfactory character before the concrete is poured. Furthermore, he may clean off the bottom surface within the cutter is so that a satisfactory bond may be made between the bed rock and the concrete.

Having the filling pipe or tremie 2! in position and the bottom properly prepared, the work is in condition for the filling operation. If the concrete is to be reinforced, the reinforcing rods 25 are placed in position within the pipe 2| and extend from the top of the well to the bed rock 9.

In order to prevent the mixing of the muck or mud with the concrete I provide a pipe or discharge head 26 which passes around or engages with the flange 22 and which has downwardly facing holes 21 for the, discharge of air or fluid under pressure. lhe air is supplied to this discharge member by a pipe 28 which leads to the top of the well and which is provided with a valve 29. The air or steam which is preferably used may be supplied from any suitable source. I have found that in some cases there is a tendency of the mud or excavated material to settle against the sides of the well and-adhere thereto so that it will'prevent. the concrete from extending across or filling the The air or steam which is forced downwardly and outwardly through the discharge holes tends to thoroughly agitate the mixture and loosen any material which may tend to adhere to the sides of the well so that the side walls will be substantially clean when the concrete is poured into the well.

The concrete is poured into the pipe 2| and passes down to the bottom and fills the cutter member H! which is to remain in position in the bottom of the well. The pipe 2| preferably extends above the top of the well and is at all times kept filled with concrete in order to prevent water from the outside of the pipe passing down and into the lower end thereof. When the pipe 2| has been filled, air is forced down through the pipe 28 and is carried around the periphery of the flange 22 and discharged downwardlyv so as to thoroughly stir up the muck and tend to hold the solid particles in suspension preparatory for the discharge of the concrete. The pipe'2l is then gradually raised so that the concrete pours out at the bottom and completely fills the well as shown in Figure 3. The concrete isadded to the supply in the pipe 2.! and the air is continued to be discharged around the lower end as the work progresses so that the wallslof the well are kept clean and a solid mass of concrete is made which will be thoroughly bonded with the sides of the well. By this means When this a substantial foundation will be provided and the column in some instances will be substantially supported, for all practical purposes, by the side walls even if the bed or bottom was not entirely satisfactory. .It will of course be noted that sections of the pipe 28 will be removed as the work progresses or a hose might be used for this purpose, which could be gradually drawn out of the well.

While I have shown one embodiment of the apparatus adapted for use for carrying out my process, it will be noted that other forms may be utilized and therefore I do not wish to be limited to the particular construction or the steps of the method herein described except as 'set forth in the following claims in which I claim:

1. The herein described method which consists in placing a rotary, cylindrical cutter in the bottom of a hole filled with water and rotating the same to cause the lower end to be embedded in the bottom and make a tight closure therewith, then removing the rotating mechanism and leaving the cutter in position, then lowering a pipe of sufficient diameter to permit a man to pass through the same, into the hole, said pipe having a flange at its lower end and a packing member'adapted to engage with the upper end of the cutter to make a tight joint therewith, then pumping the water out of the pipe and cutter while leaving it in the surrounding portion of the hole, then inspecting the bottom within the cutter and cleaning the same, then filling the pipe with concrete and utilizing the same as a tremie for'filling the hole, and simultaneously agitating the water around the lower end of the pipe as the filling proceeds.

'2. The" herein described process which consists in detachably supporting a cylindrical cutteron a well drilling pipe, lowering the cutter.

to the bottom of a well filled with water or muck, and rotating the same until the lower edge makes a tight closure with the bottom of the well, then removing the drill pipe and leaving the cutter in position, then placing a pipe in the well with its lower end making a tight joint with the upper end of the drill member, then pumping the contents out. of the pipe and drill member, then making a survey of the bottom within the drill member, then placing reinforcing rods within the pipe withtheir lower portions resting on the bottom of the well, then filling the pipe with con crete and gradually raising the same to deposit concrete in the well, and simultaneously agitating the contents of the well adjacent to the bottom of the pipe by means of fluid under pressure.

3. The combination with a cylindrical member 7 end, of a pipe having a tapered flange and 7 adapted to rest on said cutter, a gasket interposed between the flange and the tapered end of the cutter, a pipe aroundsaid flange having downwardly facing holes and meansfor supplying fluid under pressure to said last named pipe.

5. The method of constructing under-ground foundations which consists in sinking a well and keeping the same filled with water and more or less of the excavated material until a suitable stratum is reached, then inserting a cylindrical member in the Well and rotating the same on said stratum until it makes a tight joint therewith, then inserting a large pipe which is open at both ends in the well and making a watertight joint between the pipe and said cylindrical member, then withdrawing the contents of the pipe in the cylindrical member While leaving the surrounding space in the well filled, then utilizing the pipe as a tremie for depositing concrete in the well and simultaneously agitating the water and material contained therein around the lower end of the pipe by means of air as the pipe is raised.

6. An apparatus of the character set forth, including a tubular member having open ends adapted to be placed in a well filled with water and excavated material said tubular member being of less diameter than the well but large enough to permit a person to pass therethrough and to inspect the bottom of the well, means for making a tight closure between the lower end of the tubular member and the bottom of the well, and means coasting with the tubular member for discharging air adjacent to the lower end thereof to agitate the material around the tubuiar member.

WILLIAM J. NEWMAN. 

